THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I'm speaking to you from Beijing, where I've
come to support American athletes participating in the Olympic Games. This
is a moment of pride for our Olympians and the great Nation they represent,
and Laura and I are honored to share it with them.

In addition to attending the Olympics, my schedule includes meeting with
China's President, dedicating a new U.S. embassy in Beijing, and worshiping
at a local church. During my time here, I'm expressing America's deep
concerns about freedom and human rights in China. This trip has reaffirmed
my belief that men and women who aspire to speak their conscience and
worship their God are no threat to the future of China. They are the
people who will make China a great nation in the 21st century.

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FAQ

One of the most striking parts of this trip is seeing how much China has
changed. I first visited the country more than three decades ago, when my
dad was America's representative in Beijing. Poverty was rampant, and the
streets swarmed with bicycles. Today, China is sprinting into the modern
era. Beijing is covered in skyscrapers and filled with cars. And the
people of China have more connections to the world than ever before.

These changes present the Chinese people, the American people, and the
world with tremendous opportunities. So over the past eight years, America
has sought to put our relationship with China on a more solid and
principled footing. We've advanced both our nations' interests by
expanding free and fair trade and encouraging the rise of a Chinese middle
class -- which can be an enormous market for American exports. We have
also cooperated on other shared challenges, from fighting pandemic disease
to opposing North Korea's nuclear weapons programs.

At the same time, America has spoken candidly and consistently about our
concerns over the Chinese government's behavior. We have made it clear
that trusting their people with greater freedom is necessary for China to
reach its full potential. We've emphasized that being a global economic
leader carries with it the duty to act responsibly on matters from energy
to the environment to development in Africa.

Only China can decide what course it will follow, but I'm optimistic about
the prospects. Young people who grow up with freedom in one area of their
lives will ultimately demand freedom in other areas. The China of the
future will reflect its own culture and traditions, but it will also
reflect the universal aspirations of mankind -- and there's no deeper human
desire than liberty.

America's relationship with China is one element of our broader strategy
for the region. When I took office, I brought a clear conviction that
America is a Pacific Nation, and our engagement with Asia should be
stronger than ever before. We've acted on that conviction by pursuing four
broad objectives: We bolstered all five of our treaty alliances in the
Asia Pacific region -- Japan, Australia, the Philippines, and two countries
I visited this week, South Korea and Thailand.

We have strengthened our relationships with other free societies in Asia --
including India, the world's largest democracy, and Indonesia, a democratic
nation that is home to more Muslims than any other nation on Earth. We
have seized opportunities for prosperity by negotiating new free trade
agreements, including an historic agreement with South Korea -- an
agreement which our United States Congress must pass. And we helped bring
together nations throughout the Asia Pacific to fight terrorism, seek an
end to tyranny in Burma, respond to natural disasters, and address other
challenges to our people and our prosperity.

My trips to Asia as President have brought many uplifting moments. One of
the most moving came this week in Seoul, when I spoke to American troops at
the Yongsan Garrison. These men and women are carrying the burdens of
military life far from home. Yet in their faces you can see a quiet pride
that comes from having an important job, and doing it right. These brave
Americans are preserving peace, and they're sending a broader message about
our approach toward Asia. Now, and always, the United States will keep our
word to our friends. We will stand confidently for liberty. And we will
advance our Nation's interests and ideals by staying engaged in this
pivotal part of the world.